2006 Habersham Chardonnay

Taste: 5/5

Value: 5/5

Price: $15

This is a wine I picked up on a wine weekend getaway with my sister-in-law, and unlike the multiple bottles of Muscadine wines we regrettably bought, this was a great purchase, well worth repeating. It has just enough oak to give a buttery taste without being overpowering, and classic apple and pear flavors. If ever in the Helen/Dahlonega GA area, I recommend picking up a bottle - a sure pleaser! Would most definitely pick up a few more bottles of this, as well as Wolf Mountain Chanteloup and Blackstock Sangiovese.

Mark West Pinot Noir

Taste: 5/5

Value: 5/5

Price: under $10 (unheard of for Pinot Noir)

I still have not jumped on the Pinot bandwagon - more often than not, I find them flat and bland. This particular ruby colored Pinot presents ripe raspberry aromas and delicious cherry fruit on the palate with a dash of vanilla. It is a medium-bodied, silky smooth, red wine that offers a tremendous amount of food versatility. Compared to other Pinots, I found it more structured and a bit heavier on the tannins, and therefore not so ho-hum.

2008 Chamarre Nouveau Merlot Syrah

Taste: 5/5

Value: 5/5
Price: $8-$9 (Shut-up! I didn't remember the price I paid when I was drinking it, I would have guessed it was one of my $20+ bottles and STILL would have given it a 5/5 value rating)

Unbeknownst to me, there is a new French wine appellation, "Vin de Pays Vignobles de France" which allows blending across regions. This wine is a product of that new appellation. I've had Cab/Merlot blends and Cab/Syrah blends, but not a Merlot/Syrah blend before this. It is a blend of 70% Merlot/30% Syrah. True to the label, this wine is a pleasure to behold! Two words: FRUIT BOMB. Make that three: DELICIOUS! This wine is fantastically fruity without being the least bit sweet. The aroma was delightful, but not immediately recognizable, so I'm going to guess it was the pomegranates eluded to in the description. Also described as red currants and strawberries, elderberry and violet with a touch of banana. Overall, full and ripe in the mouth.